IDF Expands Operations in Northern Gaza, Prevents Return of Civilians Amid Intensifying Conflict

 On November 7th, Israeli forces intensified their ground operations in northern Gaza, specifically targeting the town of Beit Lahiya. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that civilians who have left northern Gaza would not be permitted to return as the military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas strongholds in the area continues. This directive was confirmed by Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, who noted that troops re-entered certain zones after intelligence indicated ongoing militant activity.

In recent statements, the IDF emphasized that it is facilitating evacuation routes for civilians to move toward safer areas in southern Gaza, where humanitarian aid is allowed. The northern sector, however, remains largely isolated from assistance. The decision has drawn concern from international rights groups, who argue that restricting civilian return and limiting aid access may violate humanitarian standards.

Estimates from the United Nations suggest that up to 95,000 civilians remain in northern Gaza despite evacuation orders. Footage shared on social media shows families carrying children and belongings southward through war-ravaged zones, often after days without food or water. An airstrike in Beit Lahiya on Wednesday, November 6th, reportedly killed at least 20 people, with residents describing the dire conditions as they attempted to flee the combat zone.

The ongoing displacement has compounded Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, where an estimated 1.9 million people have already been uprooted. Observers have noted that Gaza City has been further divided by IDF-established corridors, isolating certain areas for security reasons. Cohen confirmed that further division of northern Gaza was aimed at weakening Hamas’s operational capacity.

The war, which erupted after Hamas’s October 2023 incursion into Israel, has seen escalating hostilities. Israel has justified the new offensive as necessary to combat Hamas, but rights advocates warn that blocking civilian returns could amount to forced displacement. With the conflict expanding to involve Hezbollah in Lebanon, where the number of civilian deaths are also rising, regional tensions are expected to persist.